NEWSROOM
Exchange students learn to be a generation of changemakers
28 March 2024
An innovative programme that merges sustainability education with an introduction to social entrepreneurship has provided inbound study abroad and exchange students at Waipapa Taumata Rau, the University of Auckland with a unique, experiential learning opportunity. Participants have the opportunity to work with others to explore how innovation and entrepreneurship can tackle climate challenges.
Generation Changemaker is an optional, extra-curricular opportunity delivered twice a year, open to students as part of their six-month exchange to the University of Auckland. It’s organised by the International Office in collaboration with the Business School’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) and is open to students from various faculties and subjects.
This latest cohort of Generation Changemakers participants have come from universities all over the world, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Sweden, USA and more.
Participants in the programme collaborate with a highly diverse group from different countries and study areas. They engage in activities such as LEGO Serious Play workshops to enhance ideation skills and create pitch videos to improve presentation abilities, to name just a few. Feedback indicates that the programme offers a memorable experience, providing participants with valuable new skills, friendships, and knowledge.
This engaging approach to social entrepreneurship education has led to Generation Changemakers being named a finalist for the 2024 Universitas 21 network awards, which recognises best practices in international collaboration.
Using human-centred design techniques, the workshops concentrate on empowering individuals to address sustainability challenges that are significant to them. They aim to inspire their entrepreneurial spirit, encouraging them to devise solutions for pressing environmental, social, and cultural issues aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. By participating, students join a community of like-minded individuals passionate about making a positive impact.
“It was really great to see so many people who were incredibly thoughtful and engaged about ways that they can make a difference with the UN SDGs. And how readily they embraced the concepts of entrepreneurial mindset and how they could utilise that in whatever activities they were doing outside of the programme as well”, says Nova Jackson, CIE Programmes Adviser.
The programme also offers participants the opportunity to hone essential skills such as communication, critical thinking, teamwork, project planning, emotional intelligence, and socio-political awareness. The aim is for participants to leave feeling empowered to be dedicated activists and agents of change in their communities and beyond.
“I thoroughly enjoyed this programme. With a future dream of entering into sustainable entrepreneurship, I was very excited and enjoyed the time learning about what it takes to put a sustainable idea into action. Hopefully, in the future, I can use this experience and knowledge to create my own business for slow fashion”, says Mahek Malik, an Environmental Studies major from the USA.
Hannes Neupert, an Industrial Engineering and Management student from Germany, says: “Before I came to this programme, I also did some voluntary work at a social start-up in Germany. Generation Changemakers really showed me that there are still a lot more problems out there, which are in desperate need of realistic solutions. Because of that, I’m thinking about extending my voluntary work, especially towards sustainability.”
The next cohort of Generation Changemakers will be welcomed to CIE in semester 2.
28 March 2024
An innovative programme that merges sustainability education with an introduction to social entrepreneurship has provided inbound study abroad and exchange students at Waipapa Taumata Rau, the University of Auckland with a unique, experiential learning opportunity. Participants have the opportunity to work with others to explore how innovation and entrepreneurship can tackle climate challenges.
Generation Changemaker is an optional, extra-curricular opportunity delivered twice a year, open to students as part of their six-month exchange to the University of Auckland. It’s organised by the International Office in collaboration with the Business School’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) and is open to students from various faculties and subjects.
This latest cohort of Generation Changemakers participants have come from universities all over the world, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Sweden, USA and more.
Participants in the programme collaborate with a highly diverse group from different countries and study areas. They engage in activities such as LEGO Serious Play workshops to enhance ideation skills and create pitch videos to improve presentation abilities, to name just a few. Feedback indicates that the programme offers a memorable experience, providing participants with valuable new skills, friendships, and knowledge.
This engaging approach to social entrepreneurship education has led to Generation Changemakers being named a finalist for the 2024 Universitas 21 network awards, which recognises best practices in international collaboration.
Using human-centred design techniques, the workshops concentrate on empowering individuals to address sustainability challenges that are significant to them. They aim to inspire their entrepreneurial spirit, encouraging them to devise solutions for pressing environmental, social, and cultural issues aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. By participating, students join a community of like-minded individuals passionate about making a positive impact.
“It was really great to see so many people who were incredibly thoughtful and engaged about ways that they can make a difference with the UN SDGs. And how readily they embraced the concepts of entrepreneurial mindset and how they could utilise that in whatever activities they were doing outside of the programme as well”, says Nova Jackson, CIE Programmes Adviser.
The programme also offers participants the opportunity to hone essential skills such as communication, critical thinking, teamwork, project planning, emotional intelligence, and socio-political awareness. The aim is for participants to leave feeling empowered to be dedicated activists and agents of change in their communities and beyond.
“I thoroughly enjoyed this programme. With a future dream of entering into sustainable entrepreneurship, I was very excited and enjoyed the time learning about what it takes to put a sustainable idea into action. Hopefully, in the future, I can use this experience and knowledge to create my own business for slow fashion”, says Mahek Malik, an Environmental Studies major from the USA.
Hannes Neupert, an Industrial Engineering and Management student from Germany, says: “Before I came to this programme, I also did some voluntary work at a social start-up in Germany. Generation Changemakers really showed me that there are still a lot more problems out there, which are in desperate need of realistic solutions. Because of that, I’m thinking about extending my voluntary work, especially towards sustainability.”
The next cohort of Generation Changemakers will be welcomed to CIE in semester 2.
EMAIL
CIE@AUCKLAND.AC.NZ
POSTAL ADDRESS
THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND BUSINESS SCHOOL
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